Chalk-holder.



D. W. SHEPHERD.

CHALK HOLDER.

APPLIOATION IILBD MAR.31,1910.

Elwuwwtom D Asia/6 57mm],

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL W.'SI-IEPHERD, 0F RUPERT, IDAHO.

CHALK-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rupert, in the county of Lincoln and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chalk-Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in holders for pieces of chalk used for chalking billiard cues and the like, and more particularly to an improved means for locking a piece of chalk in the holder, whereby it can not be removed until it is used up.

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction of devices of this character and thereby render them less expensive and more efficient.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construc tion, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved billiard chalk holder; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the device showing the manner in which a piece of chalk is locked in the holder; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2; Fig. l is a detail view of the pivoted spring locking member or latch; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the chalk-ejecting member.

The body 1 of my improved chalk holder may be round, square or of other cross sectional shape, according to the shape of the piece of chalk C which is to be inserted in it. One end of this body is open to receive the chalk, and its other end is closed and may be provided with a bracket 2 for the reception of a cord or other flexible suspending element E. The piece of chalk is retained in the holder by a jaw 3 which is carried by a pivotally mounted locking member or latch 4 constructed of resilient material, and also carrying a shoulder 5 for engagement with a keeper 6, and a retracting portion or plate 7. The latch t is preferably of right angular shape and has the parts 5, 7, on its inner arm 8 which is arranged adjacent to the closed end of the body or shell 1, and the part or jaw 3 on its arm 9, which latter may be arranged in a longitudinally extending opening 10 formed in the side wall of said body. As illustrated, the arm 9 is mounted at one Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1910.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

Serial No. 552,574.

end on a transverse pivot pin 11 carried by spaced apertured ears 12 located at opposite points 011 the walls of the opening 10 and at or adjacent to the open end of the body 1. The chalk-engaging jaw 3 extends inwardly from the intermediate portion of the arm 9 and is preferably toothed as shown so as to eifectively grip the chalk and hold it against the inner face of the surrounding wall of the body.

The keeper 6 is preferably in the form of a transverse rod or bar arranged adjacent the center of the closed end of the body 1, and the shoulder 5 on the spring or resilient arm 8 of the latch is in the form of one or more inclined ribs or flange so constructed as to spring over the keeper bar 6 when the arm 9 of the latch is pressed inwardly'to force the jaw 3 into the piece of chalk, and thereby retain the latch in its effective position. The retracting plate or portion 7 is preferably carried by the inner end of the arm 8 of the latch and is disposed opposite the shoulder or rib 5 and the central portion of the inner end of the piece of chalk, whereby when a hole is worn in the chalk by the constant use of it, a billiard one will engage the plate 7 and force it inwardly to retract the shoulder or rib 5 from engagement with the keeper bar 6, whereupon the resiliency of the latch will cause it to spring to retracted position so that the jaw 3 will release the used up piece of chalk.

If desired, I may construct all of the parts of the latch or looking member 4 from a single piece of resilient sheet metal, the jaw 3 being formed at one of its ends and the plate 7 at its other end, the intermediate portion of the arm 8 being crimped to form the inclined rib or shoulder 5, and a portion of the arm 9 being bent to provide a hinge eye 13 for the reception of the pivot pin 11, as will be readily understood on reference to Figs. 2 and 4. v

In order to permit of the ready removal of the piece of chalk from the holder after it has been released by the jaw 3 of the latch, I may provide in the holder a chalk-ejecting member 13. The latter is preferably in the form of an open plate arranged transversely in the holder for engagement with the inner end of the piece of chalk, the opening in the plate permitting the latch retracting plate 7 to be engaged by the one after the chalk has been used up or worn through. The ejector plate or member 13 is mounted for sliding movement and has at diametrically opposite points on its edge radially projecting arms 14 which work in longitudinal slots 15 formed in the side wall of the body 1, enlarged heads or finger pieces 16 being provided on the outer extremities of the arms 14 so that the ejector may be readily manipulated.

In using the invention, when it is desired to secure a piece of chalk in the holder, the latch 4 is moved to its retracted position and the piece of chalk is inserted in the open end of the device. The arm 9 of the spring latch 4 is then pressed inwardly to force the jaw 3 into firm engagement with the piece of chalk and to move the arm 8 of the latch inwardly until the shoulder or rib 5 springs downwardly into engagement with the keeper bar 6, whereupon the latch will be locked and can not be released until the piece of chalk has been worn through and the end of the cue is pressed against the plate 7. hen this is done the arm 8 of the latch is sprung inwardly or upwardly until the shoulder or rib 5 is freed from engagement with the keeper 6, whereupon the resiliency of the arm 9 and jaw 3 will cause the latch to swing on its pivot 11 so that the jaw 3 will disengage the chalk. The finger pieces 16 of the ejector slide 13 may then be grasped and moved in the direction of the open end of the body 1 of the holder for the purpose of ejecting the piece of chalk.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A chalk holder comprising a body to receive a piece of chalk, a keeper within the body and a latch member having a aw to engage a piece of chalk to retain the latter in the body, a shouldered portion to engage the keeper and thereby retain said jaw in engagement with the chalk, and a latch-releas ing plate carried by the shouldered portion of the latch member and disposed opposite the inner end of the chalk.

2. A chalk holder comprising a body having an open end to receive a piece of chalk, a latch member having a portion extending longitudinally of the body and provided with a jaw to engage the chalk, and a portion extending transversely into the body adjacent its closed end and provided with a shoulder, and a keeper in the body for engagement by the shouldered portion of said latch member.

8. A chalk holder comprising a body having an open end to receive a piece of chalk, a latch member having a portion extending longitudinally of the body and provided with a jaw to engage the chalk, and a portion extending transversely into the body adjacent its closed end and provided with a shoulder, and with a latch-releasing plate disposed opposite the inner end of the chalk, and a keeper arranged within the body ad jacent its closed end for engagement by the shouldered portion of the latch.

4. A chalk holder comprising a body having an open end to receive a piece of chalk, a latch member pivotally mounted in the body and having a longitudinally extending portion carrying a aw to engage the chalk, and also having a transversely extending resilient portion provided with a shoulder and a latch-releasing plate, the latter being disposed opposite the inner end of the chalk, and a keeper within the body for engagement by said shoulder on the resilient portion of the latch member.

5. A chalk holder comprising a body having an open end to receive a piece of chalk, a latch member formed from a piece of resilient metal and having a portion extending longitudinally of the body and pivoted at one end, and an inwardly extending portion, the longitudinal portion having an inwardly extending aw adapted to engage the chalk and formed by one extremity of the piece of metal, said transverse portion being formed with an inclined shoulder and having its extremity bent to provide a latchreleasing plate disposed opposite the inner end of the chalk, and a transverse keeper bar in the body for engagement by said inclined shoulder.

G. A chalk holder comprising a body having an open end to receive a piece of chalk, a jaw to engage the iece of chalk, a keeper within the body, am: a resilient latch member for actuating said jaw inwardly and provided with a shouldered portion to engage said keeper.

7. A chalk holder comprising a body having an open end to receive a piece of chalk, a jaw to engage and hold the chalk, a latch to control said aw, and means whereby said latch may be retracted or released.

8. A chalk holder comprising a body formed at its opposite points with longitudinal slots, a chalk-ejecting plate having a central opening, and oppositely disposed arms slidable in the longitudinal slots of the body, and finger pieces on the outer extre1ni ties of said arms of the ejecting plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL W. SHEPHERD.

Witnesses:

J. T. PARKER, GEO. BOWLBY. 

